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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary amal·gam \\ə-ˈmal-gəm\\ noun ETYMOLOGY Middle English amalgame, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin amalgama
DATE 15th century
1. an alloy of mercury with another metal that is solid or liquid at room temperature according to the proportion of mercury present and is used especially in making tooth cements2. a mixture of different elements
amalgam
mid-15c., "soft mass formed by chemical manipulation," from M.L. amalgama, "alloy of mercury (esp. with gold or silver)," an alchemists' word, perhaps an alt. of L. malagma "poultice, plaster," from Gk.malagma "softening substance," from malassein "to soften," from malakos "soft." The word may have come from Gk. via Syrian Arabic al-malgham.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 amalgamamal·gam / E5mAl^Em / noun1. [C, usually sing.] ~ (of sth) ( formal) a mixture or combination of things 混合物；综合体: The film script is an amalgam of all seven books. 这个电影脚本由三本书合成的。 2. [U] (technical 术语) a mixture of mercury and another metal, used especially to fill holes in teeth 汞合金,汞齐(尤用于补牙)
Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged amal·gamI. \əˈmalgəm\ noun( -s) Etymology: Middle English amalgame, malgame, from Middle French amalgame, from Medieval Latin amalgama, probably modification of Arabic al-jamā'ah the assembly 1. : an alloy of mercury with another metal being made with most of the well-known metals except iron and platinum by merely bringing mercury and the other metal into contact, being solid or liquid at room temperature according to the proportion of mercury present, and being used especially in making tooth cements; specifically : a native alloy of mercury and silver occurring in isometric crystals or in massive form 2. : a combination or mixture of different elements < an amalgam of wisdom and nonsense > < an amalgam of peasants and businessmen — New York Times >II. verb( -ed/-ing/-s) Etymology: Middle English amalgamen, from Middle French amalgamer, from amalgametransitive verb1. : amalgamate 2. : to cover with amalgam intransitive verb: to unite, combine, or alloy — used with with < mercury amalgaming with an alloy >• amal·ga·ma·ble \-gəməbəl\ adjective
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